Stand for motion picture screens



Oct. 24, 1944. OWENS STAND FOR MOTION PICTURESCREENS Filed Jan. 8, 1945 t o t n e D n 3 H. Owens Jame-s (Ittorneg Patented Oct. 24, 1944 UNlTED STATES .mmwigmm James H." Owens, Camden, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of K Delaware Application January 8, 1943, Serial No. 471,786..

' 1 Claim.. r01. wo -24);.

This invention relates to an improved stand for supporting motion picture screens and more particularly to a collapsible and portable stand of the general type often used for supporting the screens for 16 mm. portable motion pictures. The construction involves a number of novel features including an improved tripod believed not heretofore used on such stands and improved fastening means for adjustably securing th several parts of the stand in proper relation to each other.

The improved construction further involves the use of a. securing means in which the load will be applied as shear to relatively'short rigid members without imposing any material strain on the latching means themselves. 1

One object of the invention is to provide an improved stand for motion picture screens.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand for motion picture screens which has a relatively rigid collapsible base. Another object of the invention is to provide a support for motion picture screens which is relatively rigid when extended and which is easily collapsed.

Another object of the invention is to provide I a support for motion picture screens which is positively secured in position when opened so Figure 2 is a. top view of the goose neck at the Y top of the stand which supports the upper edge of the screen;

Figure 3 is at side view of the side taken from the bottom of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the stand taken along the line IV-IV; and

Figure 5 is a view partly in section taken from the line V-V.

The stand includes the usual main tube II] which I prefer to make in the form of a rectangular' tube to prevent rotational strain upon the fastenings. The tube is supported upon a tripod base including the spider [2 which is secured to the bottom of the tube, the slider l3 which is movable longitudinally on the tube, the legs l4 and the braces I5. This portion of the. device is constructed in accordance with Biberoose neck man Patent No. 2,303,978, with the length of, the portion of the leg [4 between its pivotal connection to the collar [3 andithe pivotal connection to the link l5v equalto the, length of the linkul5. This provides a balancing: of the forces involved so that the legs l4 will'remain in whatever. position they may be placed without theprovision of any locking means. I

.Within the tube l0 there isprovided a .slidable tube ll of appropriate length for supporting the upper edge of the projection screen 26. This tube H is square like the tube I0 and is of such dimensions as to be a freely sliding fit within the tube l0.

Adjacent the top of the tube Ill there is provided a latch H! for securing the tube H in adjusted position in relation to the tube III. This latch I8 isprovided with a spring l9 forcing the end 2| through into the holes 22 and 23. The latch itself is pivoted into the outer tube ID at 20 as shown in Fig. 4. Holes are provided as indicated at 23 at appropriate places in the inner tube I so that this tube may be latched in whatever position may be desired. It should be noted that the end portion 2! of the latch member 18 fits into the holes in the tubes l0 and H so that this portion of the latch is stressed almost entirely in shear. In addition, the weight of the tube II is carried on the portion 2| of the latch member [8 almost in alignment with the pivot 20 of the latch [8 so that even if the member 2| is a relatively loose fit in the holev 22, the forces imposed on the latch will still only be those of shear and tension and the spring I9, is thereby relieved of any direct supporting function in relation to the tube II.

The top of the tube ll carries the goose neck 1 I 6 which is formed from sheet metal as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as distinguished from the cast and machined goose necks heretofore used. The extending arm 86 is, as shown in Fig. 2, composed of two layers of material bent into position and which may be secured together by soldering, spot welding or riveting, although the rigidity of the material may be depended upon without the use of any of these methods of securing. The loop in the metal between the two portions of the arm 15 is formed into a square box I! which is a snug fit on the top of. the tube II and may be further secured thereto by riveting, sweating or the like. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, one portion of the sheet metal forming the goose neck I6 is bent over the top of the tube II to assist in supporting the load on the top of the tube and to prevent the accumulation of dirt within the tube.

The screen 26 is carried Within a cylindrical housing 24 which is adapted to be rotated on the pivot 25 into a position parallel to the tube ID for carrying into a transverse position as illustrated in solid lines for the showing of pictures. When in the solid line position the link or hook 35 is hooked over the notch in the goose neck l6 thereby holding the screen in a vertical position and maintaining the screen roller, togethe with the case 24 in a transverseposition. The case' 24 together with the screen may be moved longitudinally along the tube [.0 by the .member 2'! provided with the handle 2.8. Thememher 2-11 bent up of fiat material and is provided with rectangular holes which are aneasy sliding fit on the exterio of the tube HI. The handle 28" angle member 34, there is practically no strain thrown on the latch 29 and the sprin 30 and the entire weight of the case 24 and the screen when enclosed therein is carried by the shear on the pin 32. When it is desired to support the screen at a different height, the latch 29 is pressed and the entire screen and holder are moved along the tube In to. some other appro-, priate aperture such, for example as that indi-' cated at 33. It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a screen stand which is unusually rigid and proof againstwear and which is extremely simple to operate.

Having now-described my invention, I claim: A self-aligning supporting stand for motion picture screens including a square tubular body member having holes in a side thereof, a tripod base. therefor, a screen container movably and r'evolubly supported on said tubular body, a

square tubular seif-alingning extension member complementary to and slidable within said body member, and latches. including spring-pressed members passing through said tubular body member and engaging'said: holes and positively fixing said: screen container and said. tubular extension member in position relative to said tubular bodymember. 1

JAMES H. OWENS. 

